Despite an early morning shower, Derbyshire’s second innings began on time and Harry Came was fortunate to avoid a pair, steering Harry Conway low to third slip where George Bartlett shelled the chance.

But the home side repeated their first-day tactic of bringing on Liam Guthrie (3-61) for the ninth over – again a successful one as the left-armer unleashed a pinpoint yorker that splayed Came’s stumps.

Guthrie trapped Matt Montgomery in front for a duck in his next over and then claimed the prize scalp of Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen, caught in the slips as he attempted to pull the bat away.

Almost immediately, the visitors lost their fourth wicket as Yousaf bin Naeem slapped Luke Procter straight to gully – part of a fiery six-over stint from the home skipper, who beat the bat several times.

However, Andersson looked more composed in the middle than his predecessors, driving and pulling cleanly to the boundary as he and Luis Reece built a chanceless partnership of 73 either side of lunch.

Derbyshire’s overall advantage was nearing 200 by the time Ben Sanderson returned to remove Reece lbw and Andersson enjoyed a slice of luck soon afterwards as his straight drive slipped through the grasp of bowler Calvin Harrison and continued to the rope.

Andersson progressed beyond 50 for the third time in four innings, but Harrison – having also bowled Brooke Guest around his legs – got his man eventually, lbw to one that kept straight and low.

Yet Northamptonshire’s hopes of a swift mopping-up job were thwarted by Potts, who struck a series of crisp boundaries off seamers and spinners alike, gaining solid support from Randell.

The pair looked comfortable as they ushered the Derbyshire total beyond 250 shortly after tea and it needed another bowling change to break the partnership as James Sales (2-13) had Potts taken low at slip.

Mohammad Abbas edged a couple of fours before he fell to a tumbling catch by Bartlett at midwicket and, with Randell holing out off Harrison (3-74), Northamptonshire were left to face 16 overs prior to stumps.

Abbas promptly sent down 22 dot balls in succession to put pressure on Procter and Ricardo Vasconcelos, but the latter began to settle into the groove with back-to-back boundaries off Potts.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir found the edge of Procter’s bat during his brief spell before the close, but the ball dropped short of slip to ensure the promotion hopefuls will go into the final day with all their wickets intact.

ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay.